4 U.S. Fashion Markets on the Rise

Although New York and Los Angeles may be the most well-known fashion hubs in the States, it’s not all about them when it comes to shopping hotspots this side of the pond.

Miami, Florida

Miami is home to a plethora of high-end stores and boutiques, such as the Webster, which sells luxury labels like Balmain, Alexander Wang, and Chanel, just to name a few. The city also hosts three major fashion weeks: Mercedes-Benz Week Swim, Miami Beach International Fashion Week, and Funkshion Fashion Week, all of which showcase the very best of resort wear. Then there’s Art Basel, which presents high-end pop-ups and collaborations that gather fashion aficionados from all around the country, making the city more than just a tourist destination, but also the place for shopping the hottest spring and summer styles.

It’s not all bikinis in Miami – both upscale and hip fashion has found its home in this tropical vacation spot

By chensiyuan (chensiyuan) [GFDL or CC BY-SA 4.0-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Portland, Oregon

Portland is just starting out on its way to nationwide recognition, but what it does have is an individualistic take on fashion. While the city can’t boast many luxury brands as of yet, it is known to be a vintage shopping haven, with the annual Portland Fashion Week recognized as “The Best Indie Fashion Week in the U.S.” by TIME Magazine. With more Project Runway winners than any other spot on the map, investors and designers have taken notice of the city. So as of late, it has been establishing itself as preferred home turf for startup and indie brands, as well as sustainable apparel and accessory companies.

Even the exterior of Stanley Korshak emanates opulence, representing Dallas’ lavish, sophisticated taste

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Dallas, Texas

According to a McKinsey Group forecast, Dallas will rank among the top 20 global markets for high-end fashion by 2025, making it the 3rd U.S. city on the list behind NYC and LA. Perhaps that’s the very reason why Karl Lagerfeld opted to hold the Chanel Métiers d’Art presentation there back in 2013. Besides being the hometown of Neiman Marcus, Dallas also boasts other beloved independent stores such as Stanley Korshak and Forty Five Ten. And they are not stocked with cowboy-inspired ensembles either. In Dallas, fashion is said to be a sport with cut-throat styles catering to sophisticated designer-loving consumers, and brands like Azzedine Alaia, Saint Laurent, and Céline among the favorites of the local crowd.

New York City may be having some competition when it comes to the hottest fashion centers in the U.S.

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Chicago, Illinois

For such a “Windy City,” Chicago’s fashion offerings go beyond just heavy-duty outerwear. The city ranks high in terms of household spending on fashion, which makes it a veritable destination for style-savvy consumers. Luxury labels like Gucci and Ralph Lauren line up along the “Magnificent Mile,” while Lanvin and Prada can be found on Oak Street. Given Chicago’s prominent weather, it’s no surprise that some of the best fall/winter fashions can be found here, featured in shows such as the FashionBar Chicago’s annual runway presentation, making it a key Midwest style hub.

Poised to steal some thunder from NYC and LA, these four cities are just a couple of places that you shouldn’t underestimate if your goal is to make waves (and sales!) on the U.S. fashion market from the East Coast all the way to the West.